Folding umbrella.



E. s. BLYTHE. FOLDING UMBRELLA.

I APPLICATION FILED MAR- 8 195- v 1,223,138. Patented Apr. 17,1917.

WITNESSES:

- '7 INl/EIVTUR y, $4M EUGENE 5. Elms 5.

A TTORNEYS E. S. BLYTHE. FOLDING UMBRELLA,

APPLICATION FILEID MAR. I8, 1915.

Patented Apr.-17, 1917.

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WITNESSES;

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. FOLDING UMBRELLA. APPLICATION} FILED MAR. 18, I915.

Patented Apr. 17, 1917.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

INVENTOR EuaE/VE 5 BL'YTHE,

ATTORNEYS E. S. BLYTHE. I FOLDING UMBRELLA. Armcmou' men MAR. 18. 1915.

Patented Apr. 17,1917.

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WITNESSES. 1'

ATTORNEYS .wAsmmncm. u. c.

.EU'GENE STANLEY BLYTHE, OF ALLEN, KANSAS.

FOLDING UMBRELLA.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 17, 1917'.

Application filed March 18, 1915. Serial 0. 15,215.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE S. BLYTHE, a citizen of the United States,'and a resident of Allen, in the county of 'Lyon and State of Kansas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Folding Umbrellas, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in umbrellas, and more particularly to that type known as folding umbrellas.

One ofthe principal objects of the invention is to provide an umbrella having an improved rib. and stretcher mechanism adapted to be folded inwardly against the stem, andwhen so folded tooccupy a space of a length substantially equal to half the length of the ribs when extended.

Another object of the invention is to provide an umbrella of the class described having an improved handle adapted to be folded against the stem and havingv improved means for maintaining the handle in extended position when desired, the umbrella when folded being adapted to occupy a small space that it may be conveniently carried either by hand orin a grip or suitcase.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an umbrella as I have suggested which will be comparatively simple, durable, efficient in operation, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures of which Figure 1 represents a top plan view of an umbrella constructed according to my in vention, the casing or covering being removed;

Fig. 2 represents a view in elevation of the same, the upper portion of the umbrella being shown in section;

Fig. 3 represents a view in section taken through the stem and easing before the stem has been withdrawn within the latter;

Fig. 4 represents a view in section taken gh the pper p tion f the stem and transversely on th casing, before. the stem has been withdrawn within the latter;-.

Fig. 5' represents a top plan view of the inner ends of the braces connected to the ring on the tubular runner;

Fig. 6 represents a view in section taken transverselyon the plane indicated by the line 66.of Fig. 5, looking in the direction indicated by thearrow;

Fig. 7 represents a view, taken on the'line 77 of Fig..'5;.',

Fig. 8 represents a View partly in section of the upper portion of the umbrella;

'Fig. 9 representsa view in section taken planeindicated by line 99ofFig.,8; N Fig. 10 illustrates av view in section taken on the plane indicated by the line'10-1O of Fig. 8,,the stem being shown in locked position relatively to the casing. I

' Fig. 11 represents a view in section taken on the same plane as Fig. 10, showing the stem and casingin relative unlocked posi tion;

. Fig. 12 represents a view in perspective and partially in section of portions of the stem;

Fig. 13. represents a view in section taken through the umbrella, the stem being partially withdrawnwithin the casing;

v Fig. 14 represents a view in section taken on the plane indicated by the line 14c14: of Fig. 13; I

- Fig. '15 represents a view in section of the lower portion of the stem and casing, the latter being shown in-shifted position relatively to the former subsequently to the stem having been withdrawn within the casing;

Fig. 16 represents a view in section taken on the plane indicated by the line 1616 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 represents a view in perspective of the adjusted stem section ends,,justpr ior to their being locked.

Incarrying out my invention I provide a tubular casing constituting a main or body portion 5 and a lower or handle portion 6. A handle 7 is carried upon the latter, and upon the former. the rib and stretcher mechanism is supported.

Upon the upper end of easing 5 a head or crown- 8 is carried, and to this crown are pivoted. the inner 'd of he r bs Th? crown or head 8 is fast on casing 5. The ribs each comprise an inner section 9, an intermediate section 10, and an outer section 11.

Slidably disposed upon casing 5 is a tubular runner 12 upon'which a ring 13 is carried at its lower end. To this ring are pivoted at point 14, the inner ends of braces B. The braces are double, constituting parallel channel members 15 connected by an integral strip or tie 16 disposed midway their length. Between the outer ends of the members of each brace B, are pivoted the ears 17 (Fig. 2) carried by cuffs 18 to which the adjacent ends of sections 10 and 11 of one of the ribs are connected. The adjacent ends of the sections 11 and 10 of each of the ribs are in this manner pivotally connected with the outer end of one of the braces B.

Slidably disposed upon casing 5 below the tubular runner 12, is a second or lower runner 19 provided with a catch depressor 20, shiftable relatively to the runner, of ordinary construction: -To a ring carried as usual on the upper end of this runner 19, are pivoted at points 21, the inner ends of struts C and stretchers D. The outer ends of struts C which are of usual formation, are pivoted at 22 to sleeves 23 carried on the outer sections 11 of the ribs, at a distance from the points at which the inner ends of these rib sections are pivoted to the braces B. Each of the stretchers D extends upwardly between the parallel members of one of the braces B, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The upper ends of these str'etchers D are bent outwardly as at 24. To the extreme outer ends of the stretchers D, the inner ends of i sections 10 of the ribs are pivotally connected as at 25. At points slightly spaced from the ends of the stretchers, the outer ends of sections 9 of the ribs are pivoted as at 26.

Arranged in alinement in the casing 5 and in opposed position, are the catches 27 and 28 respectively. The former is disposed substantially midway the length of casing 5, and the latter is disposed near the lower end of the same. When the umbrella is in open or extended position, the runner 19 is engaged upon catch 27 in the manner indicated in Fig. 2. In folding the umbrella, the runner 19 is moved downwardly and is engaged with the catch 28.

The tubular runner 12 is held against rotation relatively to the casing 5, by means of its engagement with the ring 13 to which the inner ends of braces B are connected. This runner is provided in one side at a point in alinement with catch 27, with a substantially long slot or recess 29 having an enlarged central portion 30.

The operation of the ribs and bracing mechanism therefore in being folded, is as follows: The parts being in the position i11- dicated in Fig. 2, the runner 19 is grasped and is pulled downwardly, and in so doing initially exerts a pulling force through the stretchers D. This movement collapses the adjacent ends of sections 9 and 10 of the ribs, bringing the sections 9 down alongside the stem and bringing the sections 10 down parallel with the braces B. As the move ment continues the tubular runner 12 moves downwardly relatively to the casing 5, until the slot or recess 29 comes opposite the catch 27. The catch then springs upwardly into the recess 29 and as the tubular runner continues its movement the upper end of the recess engages the catch and the downward movement of the tubular runner 12 is thus arrested. This movement of runner 12 is stopped before the runner 19 engages with the catch 28, and further movement of said runner 19 toward the last said catch exerts a pull through the struts Q upon the outer sections 11 of the ribs, thus swinging these sections downwardly upon their pivots, at the same time that the upper ends of the braces B are swung inwardly toward the upper portion of the umbrella stem, through the medium of the tension exerted through stretchers D and rib sections 10. The movements of the parts in being folded inwardly, of course occur substantially simultaneously, so that the umbrella is folded by giving a continuous downward pull upon the runner 19 until the latter is caught by the catch 28.

In opening or extending the umbrella, the runner 19 is moved upwardly and a reverse movement of the parts takes place, until when the runner is caught upon the catch 27, the ribs are in fully extended and braced position. The lower end of the tubular runner 12 is slightly flared outwardly or bell-shaped as at 31, so that the catch 27 may be readily depressed upon engagement of the sleeve 12 with said catch. The enlargement of slot or recess 29 is also provided in order that any slight movement of the tubular runner relatively to the casing 5 ma rotary manner, will not prevent the engagement of the catch with the upper end of the recess, said catch being guided toward the same by reason of the curvature of the edges of the slot.

lVithin the casing consisting of the members 5 and G is disposed the stem. The latter comprises an upper and a lower section 32 and 33 respectively. They are preferably formed of hollow tubing of a diameter somewhat smaller than the internal diameter of the casing, so that said stem may slide longitudinally with regard to the casing. The upper section 32 is carried by casing 5, and to the upper end of this section is pivoted the lower end of the ferrule 34. The section 32 is provided with a slot 35 which extends from its lower end to a point 36 (Fig. 13) near the upper end of said section. Through this slot 35 the catches 27 and 28 extend, so that the section 32 is thus guided relatively to the casing 5, the slots however being of a width somewhat greater than the thickness of said catches, so that a slight rotary motion of the stem section 32 relatively to the casing section 5, may be had as is hereinafter set out.

The stem section 33 which is carried by the lower casing section 6, is similarly provided at its upper end with a slot 37. This slot 37 rides upon a catch or detent 38carried by sleeve or casing 6, near the upper end of the latter. The lower end of slot 37 occurring at point 39, is adapted to engage the inner end of the stop or catch 38 in order to limit the'outward movement of casing 6 and stem section 33 relatively to each other. A catch 40 is carried in a lower end of the stem section 33, and is adapted to project through an opening 41 therein into engagement with an opening or recess 42 provided in the sec tion member 6, when the said section 6 is shifted outwardly with respect to the section 33, whereby to prevent accidental shifting movement of the casing section 6 inwardly relatively to said section 33. Such inward movement of the casing section 6 relatively to the stem section 33 may only be had when the catch 40 is depressed.

The sections 32 and 33 of the stem are connected together by means of a link 43 which is in the form of a short section of tubing, and which is provided at its ends with pairs of cars 44 pivoted by meansof' suitable pins or other fastening means to the adjacent ends of the sections 32 and 33 of the stem. Link 43 is provided with a groove or channel 45 alining with the grooves or channels in the said sections. By means of this link 43 the sections 33 and 32 are flexibly connected to each other, so that the handle portion of the umbrella support may be folded upwardly to the dotted line position indicated in Fig. 13, when the umbrella is to be carried or transported from place to place.

The reason for having the stem shiftable longitudinally with respect to thecasing, is to provide for retracting the ferrule 34 from the position shown in Figs. 2 or 4, inwardly into the position indicated in Fig, 13. The

lower or handle section 6 of the casing likewise is adjustable relatively to the lower stem section 33 so that this retractive movement may be taken up at the lower end of the stem, in order that the support for the umbrella may be sufficiently shortened.

The stem section 33 near its upper end is provided with a shoulder or lug 46 projecting from one edge of the groove or recess or slot 37. The distance between the outeredge or end of this lug 46 and the opposite edge of the slot is, however, equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the lug or catch 28. In extending the umbrella 'brella, the catch 38 is depressed and'the hanthe lower reduced end 47 of casing section 5. This reduced portion is thin at its lower edge orend, and the upper end of catch 38 is beveled as at 50. As the upper end of section 6 then moves onto the reduced portion 47, the catch 38 is depressed until the upper portion 48 thereof engages beneath the section 47, being moved into the channel or slot with whichthe section 33 of the stem is provided. IV hen the parts have attained these positions, the handle is grasped and shifted toward the right of the operator, thus moving the lug or shoulder 46 in a rotary manner and engaging'the same behind the inner end of catch 28 in the manner indicated in Fig.3. =At the same time, the catch 38 is moved: into registration with a recess or slot 49 provided in the reduced portion 47 of section 5. The catch'38 is thus allowed to snap back'into place, bringing the portion 48 thereof into position'within the groove 49 and thus preventing retractive rotary motion of the handle, so that the lug or shoulder 46 may not be moved out of engagement with the catch-'28 until the catch 38 is depressed and maintained in depressed condition whil-ethe relative reverse movement is taking place. In retracting the stem incident to the folding of'the umdle section is then shifted relatively to the upper section of the stem, and is drawn outwardly until the outer end or terminal 36 of. the groove or slot 35 in section 32 engages with the catch 27, thus limiting the down ward movement of the stem relatively to the upper section of the casing. The catch 40 is then depressed, and the lower section 6 of the casing shifted upwardly from the full to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 13, at which time the handle may be folded into the position indicated. I s

Such an umbrella as I have provided may be readily folded for transportation or eX- tended for use. When so folded, it will 00- cupy a minimum space, and may readily be carried from place to place by its owneror maybe packed ina suit case or hand grip; The umbrella is comparatively simple in construction,

. nipulation.

and is extremely easy of ma*- and arrangement of parts v thereof, as do not depart from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. An umbrella including a casing having a runner slidable thereon, a second runner slidable on the casing below the first runher and adapted to be maintained in raised or lowered position at will, a plurality of sectional ribs comprising each an inner section, an intermediate section, and an outer section, said inner rib sections being pivotally connected at their inner ends to the casing, a plurality of stretchers each pivotally connected at its inner end to said second runner and near its outer end to one of the inner rib sections near the outer end of the latter, a plurality of braces pivotally con nected each at its inner end to the second runner, ears carried. by the adjacent ends of the intermediate and end sectionsof each rib and being pivotally connected to the outer end of one of the braces, a plurality of struts each pivotally connected at its inner end to said second runner and at its outer end to one 01": the outer rib sections intermediate the ends thereof, said intermediate rib sections being pivotally connected each at'its inner end to the outer end of one of the stretchers, and means for limiting the downward movement of said runner prior to the movement of second said runner into ultimate lowered position.

2. An umbrella including a casing having a tubular runner slidable thereon, a second runner slidable on the casing below the first runner and adapted to raised and in lowered position at will, a plurality of sectional ribs comprising each an inner section, an intermediate section, and an outer section, said inner rib sections being pivotally supported at their inner ends on the casing, a plurality of stretchers each pivotally connected at its inner end to said second runner and near its outer end to one of the inner rib sections, the intermediate rib sections being each pivotally connected near its inner end to the outer end of one of the stretchers, a plurality of braces each pivotally connected at its inner end to the first runner and at its outer end to the adjacent ends of the outer and intermediate sections of one of the ribs, a plurality of struts, each pivotally connected at its inner end to said second runner and at its outer end to one of the outer rib sections intermediate the ends thereof, and means for limiting the downward movement of the first runner prior to the movement of said second runner into ultimate lowered position.

3. An umbrella including a support hav-' ing a ring movable longitudinally thereof, a second ring movable longitudinally of the support below the first ring and adapted to be maintained in raised or lowered position be maintained in at will, a plurality of sectional ribs including each an inner section, an intermediate section, and an outer section, said inner rib sections being pivotally supported by the support at their inner ends, a plurality of stretchers each pivotally connected at its inner end to the second ring and near its outer end to one of the inner rib sections, said stretchers being pivotally connected at their outer ends each to the inner end of one of the intermediate rib sections, a plurality of braces each pivotally connected at its inner end to the first saidring and being pivotally connected at its outer end to the adjacent ends of the intermediate and end sections of one of the ribs, a plurality of struts each pivotally connected at its inner end to said second ring and at its outer end to one of the outer rib sections, and means for limiting the downward movement of the 4,

first said ring prior to the movement of said second ring into ultimate lowered position.

l. An umbrella including a support, a plurality of sectional ribs including each an inner, an intermediate, and an outer section,

said inner sections being pivotally connected to the support at a fixed polnt, stretcher to each of which near its outer'endthe adjacent end of the inner and intermediate sections of one of the ribs are pivotally con- 1 nected, struts to the outer ends of each of which the outer section of one of the ribs is pivotally connected at a point intermediate its ends, braces to each of which near its outer ends the adjacent ends of the intermediate and outer sections of one of the ribs are pivotally connected, an element movable longitudinally of the support to which the braces are pivotally connected, a second element also movable longitudinally of the support and maintainable at will in extended or retracted position to which the stretchers and struts are pivotally connected, and means for limiting the movement of the first said element prior to the movement of said second element into ultimate retracted position.

5. An umbrella including a support, a plurality of sectional ribs including each an inner, an intermediate and an outer section, said inner sections being pivotally connected to the support at a fixed point, stretchers to each of which the inner and intermediate sections of one of the ribs are pivotally connected, struts to each of which the outer move the stretchers and struts coincidentally therewith, and means for limiting the movement of the first said means prior to the movement of the second said means into ultimate retracted position.

6. An umbrella including a support, a plurality of sectional ribs connected therewith, a plurality of braces associated each with one of the ribs, said braces including each a pair of spaced members and means connecting the members intermediate their ends for maintaining them in properly spaced relation, ears carried by adjacent sections of each rib and being pivoted between the outer ends of the spaced members of one of the braces, and a runner arranged on the support to which theinner ends of the brace members are connected.

7. An umbrella including a support, a plurality of sectional ribs each pivotally connected at its inner end to the support and comprising an inner, an intermediate, and an outer section, a runner arranged on the support, braces each pivotally connected at its inner end to the runner and at its outer end having pivotal connection with the intermediate and outer sections of one Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. 6.

of the ribs, a second runner arranged onthe support, struts connected at their inner ends with the second runner and each being pivotally connected at its outer end with one of the outer rib sections, and stretchers connected at their inner ends with the second runner and at their outer ends being each pivotally connected with the inner and intermediate sections of one of the ribs,

8. An umbrella including a support, a plurality of sectional ribs connected at their inner ends with the support, and including each an inner, an intermediate, and an outer section, a stretcher and a brace associated with each rib, the stretcher at its outer end being pivotally connected with the adjacent end portions of the intermediate and one of the remaining) rib sections, and the brace at its outer end eing pivotally connected with the adjacent end portions of the intermediate and the other rib section, and runners to which the inner endsof the braces and stretohers are connected. 7

EUGENE STANLEY BLYTHE.

Witnesses: i

W. T. EoKLEs, B. O. TAYLOR.

Commissioner of Patents, 

